From Wed 9 February to Wed 30 March 2011, BSIS hosted a series of high-profile lectures as part of its EU External Relations Lecture Series: ‘Europe and its Neighbours’. The series brought together senior members of the Brussels diplomatic community, European decision-makers, researchers and postgraduate students to discuss key foreign policy issues.
For eight consecutive weeks diplomats and practitioners gave their views on the relations between the EU and its neighbours, with ample time for debate.
Week 1: Wednesday; February 9
Europe-China-Russia: Challenges Vs Cooperation
Speaker: Ambassador Vladimir Rakhmanin
Deputy-Secretary General, Energy Charter Secretariat
Former-Head of Protocol to the former Russian President, Vladimir Putin
Discussant: Mr Gary Cartwright, Senior Policy Advisor on Russia, European Parliament
Week 2: Wednesday; February 16
Europe and Russia: past contemplations and future considerations
Speaker: Ambassador Vladimir Chizhov,
Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the European Union
Week 3: Wednesday; February 23
Europe and Ukraine: prospect for cooperation
Speaker: Ambassador Kostiantyn Yelisieiev ,
Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the European Union
Discussant: Giovanni Cremonini,
European External Action Service,
Week 4: Wednesday; March 2
Europe and the Arctic
Mr Steffen Weber ,
Secretary General; EU-Arctic Forum, European Parliament
Ambassador Oda Helen Sletnes,
Permanent Representative of Norway to the European Union,
Week 5: Wednesday; March 9
NATO and European collective defence
Ambassador Dmitry Rogozin ,
Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to Nato
Dr Jamie Shea,
Deputy Assistant Secretary General, Emerging Security Challenges Division, Nato
Week 6: Wednesday; March 16
European energy policy: aspirations, assessments and impacts
Dr Yuri lavrov,
Lukoil Belgium N.V
Theresa Fallon
Independant Oil and Energy Professional
Mr Howard Chase,
Director of European Government Affairs, BP
Week 7: Wednesday; March 23
The evolution of European Neighbourhood Policy
Mr Gunnar Wiegand,
Director for Russia, Eastern Europe and Western Balkans, European External Action Service
Week 8: Wednesday; March 30
Europe and the Mediterranean: turmoil in progress, challenges forthcoming
Mr Samuele Furfari
DG Energy and Transport, European Commission
Mr Mhamed Biygautane
Dubai School of Government, Dubai, United Arab Emirates